Counting Crows

IX; EIGHT IN THE SEA BRINGS RAIN

February 1st, 129 AS

--

We've been on edge for months now. Kalonice and I decided that we'd visit the cabin I built early last year. The stress had been wearing down on us and we needed this break.

Kalonice and I walk down the shore of the beach, covered in a light dusting of snow.

The cold, salty breeze pushes her golden hair away from her face, highlighting the sorrow in her eyes. My heart ached to see her like this.

"It'll be okay, Kal." She looks at me, her cheeks whipped red from the cold. Her smile looks sad as she rests her hand on her swollen stomach.

"I can't help but be skeptical."

I pull her close to me and she rests her head on my shoulder. "I have a good feeling."

"As long as one of us is hopeful." Kalonice pulls away and grabs my hand.

The gentle waves pushed and pulled on the beach. Occasionally a little skitter of movement would disrupt the peaceful flow of the waves. They'd always return to the same push and pull pattern.

The clouds were gray, not the dreary gray that comes with rain, but a lighter gray. The sun hid behind their cottony cover, away from the attention that it usually gets.

I look out at the sea, with its gray waves licking the beach. We pass a large rock, sticking out of the sea. Eight black figures sit on top of it. I steer Kalonice away from them, not wanting her to see them. She doesn't need to worry about them while her belly is swollen with a child.

What did eight crows mean, again? I'll find out later. The poem is meaningless now.

Soon, the beach turned into a forest. Sturdy trees rose out of the ground, reaching toward the hiding sun. Fallen leaves littered the ground, covered in a light dusting of snow. Scraggly vines embraced the trees, they were reaching toward the sun, like everything else. But, there wouldn't be enough sunlight for all of them.

The cabin came into view. The door creaked as I opened it for Kalonice. She walked in and threw off her coat. I went to the dying fire and threw a few more logs onto it.

"Do you think Tempesta will come today?" Kalonice asks, staring at the flickering fire.

"She said that she would try and visit us before we leave."

Kalonice nodded her head, her eyes were still locked onto the flames engulfing the logs I just put in.

We sat in silence for a little while, just admiring the fire and our books. The fire flickered, casting a warm light onto the room. Outside, the wind blew, shaking the trees around.

Kalonice dropped her book and her hand clutched her stomach. "Corbin, something is happening." She stood up and her dress was wet. "We need to go now."

I stood up and ushered her out of the little cabin. The wind whipped her hair around as we ran toward the stable. I quickly hooked Zephyr to the coach. My hands fumbled as I tried to latch one thing. Time was racing against me as I kept missing the latch. Finally, I got it to close and I loaded Kalonice into the coach, her eyes were wide. We've gone through this before, she's scared.

"It'll be okay," I kiss her hand. "We'll do this. Together."

"Together." I close the door and hop onto the chair. Grabbing Zephyr's reins, we race out of the stable.

The rain started pouring on us as we raced toward town. The road became slick with mud. Zephyr kicked the mud back onto me and the coach.

In the distance I could see the town lights. They shone through the thick sheets of rain falling from the sky. I whipped Zephyr's reins and he sped up.

I could feel him starting to slow down. He's never had to run this fast before. "Only a little more, bud!" I yelled over the rain. "We just need to get into town."

Zephyr turned the corner and I saw the gates of Arachmoor. "Come on bud!" His hooves clicked on the brick roads toward the Golding Estate.

I saw a few doors open as they saw us race by, but I didn't care about them.

We passed the cemetery and went up the hill toward her family's estate.

Zephyr stopped in the middle of their courtyard and I jumped off of the coach and opened the door. Kalonice's face was contorted in pain. I lift her out of the coach and run to the door. Frantically I pound on the door.

The door opens and her Uncle steps in the door. "What is the meaning of this?" He trails off when he sees Kalonice. Her Uncle ushers me into the house and gathers all the women.

They take Kalonice to a room in the back, telling me I can't go back. I sat in the lounge, nervously waiting for the news.

I was finally allowed to go into the back room. Kalonice was sitting on the bed, a bundle of blankets on her chest.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she looked at the bundle of blankets. I ran to her side. She squeezed my hands and smiled.

I sobbed, relieved that both of them were safe. I thought something horrible was going to happen.

"A girl and a boy." She pulls back the blanket to reveal two babies. One with pitch black hair and the other with light golden hair.

Twins. I had two children. They were perfect.

"You remember when you said I was a rose that pulls and pricks?" I nod. "Acanthus Perseus and Roisin Elysium."

"I love it."